Lutheran's James Robinson vs. state and local football record books

Saturday

Nov 2, 2013 at 10:49 AM

Lutheran sophomore James Robinson scored seven touchdowns Friday in a 58-12 first-round Class 4A playoff blowout of Chicago North Lawndale. That simple continued his two-year assault on just about every running record in the area. And state. Here is how he stacks up: (all records of other runners according to the IHSA, with Robinson's totals according to Register Star records).

His seven touchdowns were the second-most in area history by any player in any game, regular season or playoffs. That is second in local history to former Byron (and NIU) great Adam Dach, who scored eight touchdowns in 1986 against Pecatonica.

His seven playoff touchdowns were an area record, one more than Belvidere's Kevin O'Brien had in a Class 5A playoff game against Chicago Robeson in 2007.

Robinson's six rushing touchdowns tied O'Brien's mark. Robinson also had one kickoff return touchdown. (By the way, who kicks the ball deep to Robinson with only 15 seconds left in the half?)

Robinson's seven touchdowns broke the Class 4A mark of five and was second in any class to Craig Duppong of Lockport, who ran for eight TDs against Elgin Larkin in a Class 6A first-round game in 1998. No one else in state history had ever scored more than six touchdowns in a playoff game. Robinson scored six in the first half, seven in the first half plus four minutes before leaving the game, and five on his first eight carries, all in the first quarter.

James Robinson now has at least 45 TDs on the season for Lutheran (9-1). That includes six receiving TDs and at least the one kickoff return from Friday night's playoff game. He also has 38 rushing TDs (our stats say 32, but they won't be updated until Monday).

Last year, Robinson ran for 27 TDs and had two more receiving TDs. That gives him at least 74 career TDs (not accounting for any return touchdowns except the one against North Lawndale).

That already ties him with Rob Munson of Hamilton for 20th in state history. With more than two seasons still to go. Even if he returns to his freshman rate, Robinson has a chance to catch No. 2 John Dergo of Morris as early as next year.

The overall leader is Caleb Pratt of Westville (127). They both scored 27 touchdowns as freshmen, but Robinson has more than doubled Pratt's sophomore total (20). Pratt had 31 touchowns as a junior and 45 as a senior when Dakota crushed Westville in the state title game 50-12.

Pratt also has the record for most touchdowns in a regular-season game (12) and most career points (774) and is the man Robinson is chasing for the all-time state rushing record (8,477 yards). Robinson is already over 4,000, with 2,144 yards this year.